US-DPRK RELATIONS Plans for Second Kim-Trump Summit Under Way The US special representative on North Korea Stephen Biegun arrived in Seoul on Sunday, February 3 for meetings with North and South Koreans ahead of the second US-North Korea summit slated for later this...

North-South Korea Relations South Korea’s Defense Ministry’s Report omits language describing North Korea as “the enemy” The first defense white paper released during the administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in deleted a phrase about the North Korean...

SOUTH KOREA NEWS Taxi Drivers Stage Nationwide Strike On December 20, an estimated 250,000 taxi drivers staged a nationwide day-long strike, calling for a ban on Kakao’s ridesharing service. Around half the nation’s drivers rallied in front of the National Assembly...

US-ROK ALLIANCE Trump Wants South Korea to Pay More for U.S. Troops President Trump’s demand that South Korea increase its funding for U.S. troops deployed there has reportedly soured on-going negotiations over the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) between the two...

NORTH-SOUTH RELATIONS South Korea’s Moon Urges North Korea’s Kim to Visit Seoul South Korean President Moon Jae-in delivered a message on December 1 urging North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to pay a reciprocal visit to Seoul within the year for the promised summit...

U.S.-DPRK Relations High-level Talks Postponed Talks between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and North Korean Workers’ Party Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol scheduled to take place on November 8 have been postponed. Although the officially stated reason for the...